World Immigration News

Italy Opens Two-Day Justice Referendum Amid Immigration Policy Tensions

Release Date: 2026-03-22
Media: VisaHQ
Summary: Italy has begun a two-day confirmatory referendum on a major judicial reform, formally concerning the separation of judges’ and prosecutors’ careers but effectively serving as a confidence vote on Giorgia Meloni’s government and its hard-line migration policies.

Turnout reached 38% in the first 12 hours, reflecting strong public interest. The government argues that the judiciary has obstructed its migration agenda, including offshore asylum processing in Albania, while judicial authorities reject this as political pressure.

If approved, the reform would restructure the judicial system, potentially speeding up trials but raising concerns about judicial independence, as also noted by the European Commission.

The outcome will significantly affect how migration-related decisions—such as detention, deportation, and work permits—are handled in courts. A “Yes” vote could strengthen the government’s migration policies, while a “No” vote may stall reforms and create political uncertainty.
Tags: Italy